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Targeted Color Imaging: Degas Crater
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Caption:
This spectacular view of the crater Degas was obtained as a high-resolution targeted observation (90 m/pixel). Impact melt coats its floor, and as the melt cooled and shrank, it formed the cracks observed across the crater. For context, Mariner 10's view of Degas is shown at left. Degas is 52 km in diameter and is centered at 37.1° N, 232.8° E.
Date Presented:
June 16, 2011, at a
NASA press conference
Instrument:
Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS)
Background Info:
The MESSENGER spacecraft is the first ever to orbit the planet Mercury, and the spacecraft's seven scientific instruments and radio science investigation are unraveling the history and evolution of the Solar System's innermost planet. Visit the Why Mercury? section of this website to learn more about the key science questions that the MESSENGER mission is addressing.
These images are from MESSENGER, a NASA Discovery mission to conduct the first orbital study of the innermost planet, Mercury. For information regarding the use of images, see the MESSENGER image use policy .
Cataloging Keywords:
| Name | Value | Additional Values |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Mercury | |
| System | ||
| Target Type | Planet | |
| Mission | MESSENGER | Mariner |
| Instrument Host | MESSENGER | Mariner 10 |
| Host Type | Orbiter | Flyby Spacecraft |
| Instrument | Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) | |
| Detector | Wide Angle Camera (WAC) | |
| Extra Keywords | Color, Crater, Impact, Radio | |
| Acquisition Date | ||
| Release Date | 2011-06-16 | |
| Date in Caption | 2011-06-16 | |
| Image Credit | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington | |
| Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14351 | |
| Identifier | PIA14351 | |
